50percentkaz

in the stars...

2011-04-26T17:04:00.000+10:00

mothers always feel guilty...no?

i don't like to get involved in the working/staying at home mother debate. it's not healthy.

we made a decision early that one of us would hang at home. my career went on hold. we travelled around the country for my man's work, i worked a few days (or nights) a week & the boys had me home mostly. now it's my time. i feel a little selfish at times....

it was in my stars....everything i read last year was about a little leo growing up & moving up.it felt like whatever i dreamed of, i got. don't get me wrong. it was hard work too. but i set my mind to something & i achieved it. the universe aligned & now i have a dream job. sometimes you just have to believe.

photo is one of poh's paintings...remember i discovered her before she was on masterchef??

jumping through hoops

2011-04-26T16:46:00.000+10:00

i am unsure where the months go.
i have jumped through alot of hoops lately though.
today i feel strong. other days, not so much. hormones. life.
change is great though.
on a crafty note.....i have squeezed in a few sessions of late. the ironing & housework just has to wait sometimes. the crafting quiets my soul & brings me joy.
this teeny embroidery hoop was made with love from recycled cloth, vintage buttons & transfer paper. it took me longer to figure out how to print in mirror mage than to make the whole thing....i made another but it was gifted before i photographed it. it had red & white spot bunting. really cute.
jumping through hoops...

new year

2011-01-09T11:31:00.001+10:00

somehow my holidays are nearly done & i am back at work in 2 days....how does that happen?
in typical 50percent fashion, i am still to get gifts to friends i work with. my brooch making came to a halt when the rainy weather wouldn't let my paint dry & so i lost interest....am back into it today despite the rain.
we have a new baby in the family...he is a tiny maltelier puppy & as we are first time dog owners, i am the typically annoying 42yo first-time mother at the vet with a million questions. i am surprised at how in love with him i am as i have never been a dog sorta gal. he has melted me though.....despite the toilet training & 0430hr starts most mornings. man he is cute!
the rain continues & i am reaching for my inner craft diva to make use of my last few days of holidays....i am going to let the kids (fur children included) fend for themselves (they have a new x-box bought yesterday with savings & a 15yo niece to entertain) & be totally selfish for the day i've decided.....& finish something for god's sake! am off to find my rainbow....
print by dazeychic on etsy...love her style

christmas ready or not....

2010-12-16T12:54:00.000+10:00

i am probably the most disorganized i have ever been for christmas. barely any gifts sorted. man's birthday tomorrow & no gift yet.
i am curiously calm though.
another storm is coming & i am looking forward to smelling the rain.
i am making brooches & dreaming of doillies.
my first day of holidays & i am just catching my breath.

photo from creature comforts

holidays....

2010-12-16T12:34:00.002+10:00

this photo made me smile last night in bed with the iphone in the blackout.

i got home from a long 12 hour day at work....my last day before 3 weeks holiday! my family had dinner cooking. then....lights out. the storm nuked all power for a few hours. the candles were lit. dinner served in bowls, books read by candlelight & the 4 of us chatting & having laughs in the dark together...for hours.

i'm not sure about anyone else, but we are pretty routine in the evening - dinner together, clean up together, showers & then chill time (often with the boys upstairs & the 2 of us catching up on the couch. bedtimes are apparently strict in our house. well, so my kids tell me....i think it's just fine. more often than not of late, they are tucking me into bed!

last night was just beautiful. i sat on the couch, had dinner served to me, kids hanging around reading joining in the convo & man & i enjoying a glass of wine together. lovely family time.
we both commented that thanks to mother nature, we had an unexpected peachy family night in.

sometimes it really is the little things....

photo from how about orange

booty...

2010-10-08T15:47:00.000+10:00

i have booty....yes, my arse is big, but i am talking booty from holidays....crafty, delicious, exciting booty direct from places like...
purl soho - omg the most gorgeous shop. the photo above is from their embroidery hoop display. this place is pure porn for the crafty chicks out there. i visited twice & was so overwhelmed i couldn't decide what to buy...madness. i do have a little fabric bundle, felt buttons & tiny embroidery hoops though....& freezer paper for stenciling...in fact, 12 metres of the stuff. shit i can stencil a whole freaking room!
moma - i have nyc in a bag. it was a rainy day & busy indoors but amazing to see up close the works of the great artists of the world... breathtakingly close up!
kiteya - amazingly gorgeous little bag from a beautiful japanese store in soho. nerida, you would wet your pants...in a good happy way! i was literally nearly wetting my pants as loos are hard to come by in nyc & i had my 3 boys waiting outside hungry, so a short quick shop.
verbena - i have bookplates & a cute little lunch bag to take to work each day...from shirlington village, washington dc. this village was picture book perfect & we stayed here for 4 nights & totally adored the dog friendly village atmosphere among the locals.
limelight market - an incedible church turned boutique market place...beautiful & i regret not snapping away for photos....i have lacey coaster goodness & a new teacup with silicon lid.
meatpacking district markets - i have gorgeous earrings from a street stall. this was a relaxing day in the sunshine & a walk along the high line....this is worthy of a post all it's own.
anthropologie - i have teatowels with crochet edges from this extremely overpriced store. must admit, i was disappointed. their stores are huge & beautiful to browse around but mostly quite overpriced.
disneyworld - i have jedi mickey & darthvader goofy (there is a story behind that)
madison park market - i have graffiti art photos for framing
banana republic - cute little pieces of clothing that make me smile
swarovski crystal - i have the most beautiful ring that shimmers brightly & changes colour depending on the light.
totally amazing booty! shit hot booty. shake your arse booty!

i'm back baby!

2010-10-08T14:06:00.000+10:00

wow, have i got loads to share & talk about!!

we landed back on aussie soil early tuesday morning....after a 20 hour journey from new york. i have had the best holiday ever & am totally in love with nyc & it's vibrant energy.
so, i still have the half written postcards from vegas in my bag, the washing is almost done & i have big plans for a travel blog......but don't hold your breath. remember i'm 50percentkaz!
i am however, the happiest & most relaxed i've been in a very long time....& it feels great. i have a huge endorphin-like high going on & what a buzz it is.

the craft itch has me scratching though & i am totally obsessed with vintage telephones & doilies (still). so, this weekend i am stitching me up a little something & chasing down a stamp i have been lusting after for some time. my brooch obsession continues also, so look out!

as i am obsessed with vintage phones, i just bought this one & i cannot wait for it to arrive in the post. so excited. isn't she beautiful??

new look

2010-09-04T09:17:00.000+10:00

i am escaping into blogworld for some play. i am mucking around with new templates, so things could get messy here for a bit.....

father's day..... sucks

2010-09-04T09:16:00.000+10:00

to me, father's day is a pain in the arse. i know i will burn in hell for muttering these words but i am not known for my holding back.
you see, the infrequent phonecalls i have with my father are all the same. i barely know him. i reconnected after many many years of lost contact. and i try really hard but i struggle to be honest with him & to be myself. i haven't told him we are going on a holiday because i don't want to seem extravagant. he lives very simply & has medical problems but of his own doing. i am trying hard not to sound harsh but i can't help him. i am glad to have contact with him as i see it makes him happy. and in some ways i am more like him than my mother. but our lives are vastly different. and he needs to help himself too. i always ring on special occasions but i have to psych myself up for it.
my step-father is lovely & i respect & love him in a different way. but he's not my father. i can talk more easly with him but it's still pretty superficial.
my husband....is the father of our 2 gorgeous boys & i know he deserves to be treated on father's day. but he's not into fuss & gifts & hoo-har. he was brought up in a harsh disjointed way & never really celebrated anything. it's taken me 15 years to constantly reinstill the importance of occasions & gift giving for our own family traditions. he has no father now & i know tomorrow will bring some inner sadness for him. he never knew his father. he only heard of his death after the fact. he was robbed of the chance to ever know him.
so, for us, it's more about writing words in card for my husband. something from the heart. and maybe a shirt from colorado...

threes...

2010-09-04T08:56:00.000+10:00

yes, i believe things happen in threes. they always do.
this fortnight its been:
1.the glass outdoor table exploding into a trillion pieces right before our eyes at breakfast. quite a freaky site. and quite a freaking mess!
2. a text from 14yo son at 4pm...mum would it be inconvenient to ring you now?....instantly i was suspicious. i return the call to hear that 10yo son has hurt his arm at school. as a nurse & midwife my response is...can you move all your fingers? is it sore? is it swollen? get the gameboy out & see if you can use it. i'll ring you in 15 minutes on my way home.....husband in sydney of course.
walk in the door at 6pm, took one look under the icepack & yep its broken. fracture clinic is my second home. just in time to fly out on the family holiday but all is good.
3. the dryer blows up...
yep...threes! done!

lilly white arse

2010-09-04T08:44:00.000+10:00

so in a matter of days i will be planting my lilly white arse on a big plane & heading to the excitement of america. first stop - vegas. well, technically its LA but only to get on another plane for vegas. we saw LA 3 years ago & it didn't meet with my expectations....whole other story!

we are doing vegas, orlando, washington & new york!! i think i am more excited than the boys.

but i have a dilemma.....i look like a hairy albino mammoth straight from hibernation. i kid you not. my legs are the hairiest i have ever seen. the brazillian got cancelled last month (i know, the horror) & my vampire-like white sheen will scare small children at the pool in vegas.

the wax is booked (i pity that poor beautician) but i am in a dilemma about the spray tan. i normally get a light spray tan before going on holidays but am reconsidering this time....even though i know white flab is worse than slightly tanned flab.

i try to blend in a little poolside as i always look like the aussie - white, hiding in the shade, 30+ sunscreen & kids covered up too & bored within an hour of sitting. the europeans are letting it all hang out (hair & dangly bits included) & bronzing away oblivious to the word melanoma....the americans are squeezed into a bikini no matter their size & are tanned to within an inch of their life with their silicon boobs popping out. the brits are excited to see sun & blue skies & their skin is screaming for more vitamin d.

my friend trish is off to bali with her sister soon & asked about a spray tan. she is gorgeous & would still look great without one. i am screaming....yes it's fab. do it.....so why am i rethinking it this time? i am not put off by the get naked & stand spread eagle in front of a size 8 beautician while she sprays you from head to toe...bending over to get the butt cheeks properly...no that (surprisingly) doesn't bother me at all. i can tolerate the stench of it & the stickiness & not showering for 12 hours.

maybe i am just becoming more comfortable in my lilly white arse. maybe i want to be natural. maybe i just can't be arsed....await for the screams poolside.

ps...not my lilly white arse in the photo...but a girl can dream!

mornings....

2010-09-04T08:09:00.000+10:00

i think i've changed. i think i'm a morning person now....or may be i'm just getting old. because old people get up early, even when they don't have to.
all this new work routine has me up early each day. and now, on a saturday, i am awake at 6am without an alarm and ready to get on with the day.
my man says i am like a little goat leaping out of bed each morning, excited to get into the day. trust me, he's never seen me leaping out of bed before!
wow, imagine my excitement....i feel human. i sleep and eat in regular patterns. no shiftwork. i tell you, i've seen the light! there is no going back now.....well, that's the plan anyway. i do love plans and lists remember.

big baby

2010-07-18T17:00:00.000+10:00

having weekends off is a whole new concept for me. it has so many bonuses for family life. the only negative is going places where everyone is on their day off too.

we went for brunch to ben o'donoghue's new surf club cafe at southbank....yummy food our style - hot strong coffees, chilli & coriander, bacon, eggs & prawns & hot smoked salmon. yum!

then lined up for ron mueck's exhibition. totally amazing. though 14yo son found the in your face nudity a tad confronting initially. he's 14...

we love goma & i always wish we went more often. it's a great family thing to do. and we always stop off for chocolate brownie at togninis cafe. it's tradition....gotta!

summer yet?

2010-06-24T11:15:00.000+10:00

so, it appears that the only way i will survive being holed up wearing my red clogs & poncho (from anthropologie) in my cottage in europe is to have a constant supply of saki....apparently it warms you up nicely. thanks for the tips nerida!

winter is a chore for me. i sort of hold my breath & get through it trying not to whine...too much. right now, i am dreaming of vegas & the humidity & sun & pool. it is still a few months away but i am gagging for it!

other things....found myself another hairdresser (one of robin hood's mates) who can actually cut hair. she took one look at my '80's hair & rescued me. i'm back baby!! and it feels good.

masterchef...still loving it. bumped into sharnee in the valley yesterday. i soo wanted to hug her & tell her i thought she was fab & that i love young peeps with passion....but i had a hot chocolate milk moustache & thought i may scare her...& i still had my '80's hair then.

dreaming of crafting but lately all my time has been about the career. must be midlife crisis time as i am plotting my path out of shift work. after over 20 years, i am done! so, here i sit surrounded by paperwork, applications, cv & reading upon reading. my little voice told me that this was my year....so, i remain positive & am embracing the journey. it is somewhat unexpected but amazing. so far, it feels good.....step by step.

catch-up...direct from the 1980's

2010-05-16T10:43:00.000+10:00

it has been a whirlwind of a month. what have i been up to? where has the time gone?

eating the best poached eggs at sassafras
eating & shopping with a friend of over 20yrs who was visiting
taking 2 steps forward & 6 back with my mother
trying to let go of the disappointment (again)
learning that friends move on & change too & that's ok
reading, reading & more reading

i also am living back in the '80's with my new haircut....remember how my robin hood (man in green tights hairdresser boy) left for sydney to chase his boyfriend...well, i tried a new salon didn't i!
you know when you are sitting there & you just know it's about to go to shit...are you hearing me?? i should've listened to my inner voice & ran....but. i. didn't.
i asked for a stylish chic bob. not anything near the mark i'm afraid. all i heard about was how this tubby pom has trained in london, how shit aussie cutters are, the ex-husband, how she's so experienced, bla, bla, bla... it was a most torturouse 2 hours. now i am left to pick up my legwarmers, find a scrunchie in the drawer & wait for it to grow so it can be fixed! i had this style in 1987 & i didn't need to relive it. really.
i am a leo & i detest bad hair!

but the best thing this month is we have booked a holiday for later in the year!!
we are off to vegas, orlando, washington & new york for 3 weeks. i am very excited. the house sitter is booked, the flights are all booked & now i just have the hotels to book.
i am itching to get my lilly white arse into anthropology, urban outfitters, moma & the likes. and this time i am coming home with a kitchenaid if it kills me. i deliberated last time in san fran about spending $299 on one. not this trip baby. it's all mine.

playing dress-ups

2010-04-11T17:06:00.002+10:00

it all started a few weeks ago when my eldest son needed an hawaiian shirt for a themed party - 14yo style. to my sheer disbelief there was not one piece of appropriate clothing to be found in our house. so i was off to ******** (opportunity/thrift store) of course. & there it was in all it's glory. the perfect shirt for him. & hibiscus embellished billabong boardies in his size. what a find.....little did i know that my real life was about to be revealed to me.

after parting with my $6 for both items, somehow i was signed up to volunteer at the store once a month....starting on a tuesday. yes, of course i'd love to. yes the 13th sounds fine. in the bat of an eye i had agreed to volunteer in the middle of school holidays, with an already overloaded schedule, a husband interstate that day & not energy enough to even shake my head. how did that happen? shit. i know i wanted to do more community service....but.....fuck, i can barely clothe myself on my rare days off of late. let alone cook, clean or have sex! now i am fucking volunteering at ********! shit, now i have to lie to them - the thrift store that do so much for the community.... i have an extra child that day & it will be physically impossible - for more than one reason.

how do i get myself into these situations?

so, it appears i am playing dress-ups. i am pretending to be a fabulous svelte little wife & mother, who homecooks every meal, has a spotless house, dresses in beautiful clothes, has an amazingly important & fulfilling job & who never complains.

the truth is i am absolutely exhausted, can barely think about eating, let alone cooking or exercising. the 3 week growth on my legs is annoying even me. i have beard. my floors are filthy. i got my husband nigel's new book - overworked & underlaid - for bedtime reading to keep him busy (& to try & convince him he is not alone). i haven't cooked a meal in 4 nights. i can't be arsed in communicating with anyone. i have nothing to wear as our entire wardrobes sit unironed in the family room.....well, actually a few things are being ironed by my husband as i type. apparently the kids have been in the same clothes for 3 days now. no one has really noticed. or cares. they are boys who are happy to free-ball any chance they get. i have been at work, so it hasn't happened on my shift!

playing dress-ups is great when you actually have clothes to put on.

tomorrow i have to ring & lie to a charity organization. because i am stupid. & i seem to help everyone but me. & i have a patient husband who understands the need for space. & great kids. & i have booked in for a facial as soon as school is back. & i will try not to feel guilty. & i am officially banned from that particular thrift store....which is my fave for dress-ups. bugger....

not a morning person

2010-04-08T09:11:00.000+10:00

i am sitting here with my second cup of coffee & my raspberry & almond muffin thinking...why didn't i put white chocolate chunks in these muffins?

if i was a morning person, i would've cleaned the toilets & showers by now & had the second load of washing on...but alas, i am not a morning person. it appears i am not a late night person either. i was falling asleep on the couch at 8.30 last night.....the joys of years shift work are finally depleting me.

it's been a year since i had a holiday...& in my line of work, that's about 11 months too long! well, it just seems unfair as i have worked all the school holidays in this time. i know i only work a pathetic few days a week, but it still counts. i am one of those mums that loves the holidays...until about the last week of the 8 week xmas break! i love the sleep-ins (having to wake one child at 10.30 this week was pretty funny), the hanging out, the catch ups, the pure relaxing of it all........yes, holidays are great for us non-morning peeps!

today is a day off & i need to make a list, so i actually achieve something. i have been a bit off my game on lists of late. it means i just float along not really achieving much of anything.

great news though...2 days in to a new gig at work & i am loving it. i may never want to return to the old me. maybe i will hang up my baby catching glove for good. this gig is much less messy & noisy, more delegating, more typing & less wiping than i ever imagined my work life to be...there may be no going back. who knew change would be so refreshing?? and clean...

**cupcake wrappers not mine...my memory escapes me - sorry!!

lost for words?

2010-04-06T10:07:00.000+10:00

it would appear i don't have much to say of late...when in fact, i have a lot to say...but it's just too full of expletives to put here. do you have times like that too?

much has happened but not in the crafty goodness way that i would like. but there are some highlights with the lowlights...

i did get a hug from a giant white bunny at work on the weekend. i was truly excited until a colleague told me he was a real creep...then someone else said it was a girl...which i though was much better. relief? not sure. but the bunny gave me an egg! trust me. it was the highlight.

i got the news my brother left his (second) wife. deep down i felt it was good news as he hadn't seemed happy in years & i suspected she was part of that. lets just be discreet & say we are very different! but still a tough situation for the kids. he has a son with her & 2 teen girls with wife #1..the highlight for me was hearing my 15yo neice say well that's great dad as she was a real bitch anyway!! same neice is upset his birthday party this month is cancelled....even though it shouldn't be a highlight, my neice said what everyone else was thinking & that made it a highlight for me! & my brother & i have spoken more this fortnight than in total in the last 5 years. a highlight!

clarity at work. for my man & myself. all in the one week. exhausting & stressful. a pivotal moment when you realise that you need more challenges, leadership & support than can be given where you are & you choose the high road & embrace other challenges. with great people around. definitely a highlight.

end of term 1. we all made it. year 6 & 9 parent teacher interviews. definitely a highlight.

letting go.... of stuff. of friends that are unreliable & have moved on too. of clutter & noise. of preconceived ideas. of the hurt & anger. what a huge highlight....i feel 10kgs lighter. well i know i'm not. but i feel it!

the clogs....from anthropology. what a highlight in my search for clogs! aren't the beautiful...

newfound loves...

2010-03-14T11:05:00.000+10:00

olive manna is one of my newfound loves. it's paper & textiles & delicious photos...go there for a peek. it is heaven to me. i need some cotton reels & stickers.... they are gorgeous!

the good fairy is another. of course the translation tool helps! norwegian has never been my best language. great retro fabric, crafting, scandi peeks & links...

armellejewelry is another...for all sorts of reasons. eye candy, food & kids stuff. as well as bling.
have a look. she has some great stuff.

all good

2010-03-14T10:29:00.000+10:00

so, i survived another week.....i realised this boy worries me but he's ok. he is fussy but that's how he is. he sat up & ate pork belly (home cooked with love) & asian greens last night. maybe he's got good taste afterall.......

the boys tell me they visited little vietnam town yesterday....which was just really a suburb in our part of the world. we talked at dinner how fab & multicultural australia is. we all love it. we love the asian influence here & couldn't survive without it.

then i realised (not for the first time)....we are just not meat & three veg sort of people. maybe that's why my boy had a hard time with school camp food....it's old school. straight out of the 1980's. my boys have never eaten that sort of food.....it's foreign to them. like bali belly to some that travel to bali who are not familiar with their food.

so, he got bali belly. he's ok. i'm ok. we're all good.

lost it...

2010-03-09T11:14:00.000+10:00

i think i have seriously lost the plot....the weekend was a blur of bile & sleep deprivation. our youngest got sick on school camp (again) & needed hard drugs to stop the bile vomits. i was greeted to this as i finished night duty friday morning....so, after 2 hours sleep i had a little green patient at home. he worries me as i think the anxiety around food starts it intially. but then it goes deep in his gut & before we know it, he cannot stop vomiting & we are at the doctor.

this child is a sensitive soul. and a very fussy eater. like i was before i left home. he likes boring plain old food....which no one else in the family likes. we eat loads of asian, indian, spicy foods. but not this kid. i must confess i sometimes wash a curry under the tap for him. to tone down the spice. friends alternate between hysterical laughter & total shock. i just got to the point where cooking 2 meals was just too much. and he needed to get with the program. he now will swallow a vitamin - a recent achievement.

dinner time for this kid has always been a dramatic event. different textures send him into a spin. he puked back some couscous last week. straight back onto his plate. it didn't reach his stomach. my calm reply? hun, just move your chicken away from the vomit & concentrate on the chicken.....is this too calm?

i alternate between hard arsed just eat it mum & totally whatever go to bed hungry mum....i have been trying to be calm about the food. blood tests a few years ago revealed nothing was wrong. but we are back at the gp for some input this week.

he is 10 now & in my mind, we should be on easy street when it comes to dinner. we eat healthy meals. my kids have not grown up on meat pies, soggy frozen vegies & tinned food....but apparently camp food is this sort of food. part of me likes that he cannot eat that crap. but he needs to try....he tells me it's the smell that gets to him. i don't blame him. that stuff stinks. but he cannot starve himself at camp.

he has improved.
he still swallows peas whole - so did i.
he will eat broccolini tiny bit by tiny bit.
he won't touch salad.
he eats chicken, meat, pork, fish (with my beer batter)
he eats potato, pasta & rice
he loves cheese
he eats apples & sometimes watermelon
he never eats sweets, lollies or cakes (only my choc chip muffins which he cooks with me)
the only orange thing he will eat is a cheezle.

am i losing it? does any other mother go through this? how does one gorgeous little person reduce me to tears with worry?

just breathe....

2010-03-03T13:01:00.000+10:00

finally, a day off.
it's been crazy here for the last 10 days. course work to do, workshop talks to prepare, boy to get to camp, shifts & double shifts to get through, homework - for us all, debating workshops for one boy.....& the usual family business....& night duty is looming like a thunder cloud.
& the rain. o my, the rain!
i have just eaten a huge bowl of porridge for lunch. it was perfect.
i am ignoring all the mess, the washing & ironing, the cleaning....& i am just taking a few breaths today. catching up on computer things, browsing blogs, buying a few goodies online.
i bought a set of mounted photos from here. they look beautiful. this photo is one of them. i know just the wall to hang them.
just breathing now....

japanese advantage

2010-02-28T21:16:00.000+10:00

is it wrong to encourage my eldest son to stay good friends with the most gorgeous half japanese girl in the school? i mean, they are great friends & have been for years.

it's just that now i lust after washi tape & japanese craft books, i could use this japanese influence to my advantage couldn't i?

and she is stunning & super smart....

& goes home to japan often.

shit, what's not to like?

my eldest voluntered to be a buddy for a japanese exchange student last week too. this is my son who embraces his inner nerd & has just spent his sunday at a debating workshop. god, where did he come from? he's cute & thoughtful & cultured & would totally make a wonderful boyfriend for a gorgeous japanese girl....i could invite her to dinner to translate for me.

she sends home origami swans for him.

life is good with this girl around.

i just need some happy tape!

dutch chicks

2010-02-27T12:05:00.000+10:00

not so long ago, all i knew about holland was clogs, tulips & the tasty little croquets(?) my old dutch neighbours would cook up when i was 12. remembering, i came from closed minded rural australia & that my mother still refers to anyone with an accent, dark hair /skin or a passport as new australians! really.

i have the most amazing friend who's family brought her to australia from holland at the age of 12. she tells stories of speaking no english, kooky (to aussies) clothes & head flushing at school - all for just being different. i cannot even imagine how difficult her life was back then. i have a deep admiration of this girl & she embraces her uniqueness with an ever present smile. i love her. her talents are many & she is stylish beyond words. i am hoping some style rubs off on me one day...

since discovering blogging, i have discovered more deliciousness than i can imagine about the netherlands & surrounding areas & i just want to be transported there to live for a year. i would be the awkward, daggy, pale little aussie among the strong, stylish, tall dutch chicks. i would just hope i am past the head flushing stage.

blogs like yvestown totally let me escape to another world, if only for a little while. this dutch girl is amazing & i cannot wait to discover more on her blog.

now, i am after dottieangel's clogs & i can tiptoe through the tulips. do they actually wear clogs in the netherlands or is it just a tourist thing? i don't want to be wearing anything kooky & put myself at risk of a head flush...

ps...photo is from yvestown blog & tutorial for crochet garland there also. btw, i had a go but my clogs are pinching my toes & i need to practice more....

dottieangel

2010-02-27T11:23:00.001+10:00

dottieangel is pure nanna chic goodness. check it out.

just wishing i could be cool enough to wear a dress over jeans & boots like she does. love it.

i am thinking i need more nanna chic in my house....

this week

2010-02-27T11:08:00.000+10:00

a big week. extra shifts & a workshop that wasn't quite as poke your eye out with a needle boring as what i was led to believe - thank god we had the fill in facilitator!!

my saviour was....indian food & wine last night after overtime & being in the same clothes for 15 hours....well, a shower was good too.

also, i cannot get my mind off granny squares. i have had an image of a rug in my mind for a year now. you know the ones doing the circuit. little explosions of colour within white borders...mmmm.

i really want to be wrapped in mormon goodness in one of kelly's classes & feel that buzz of creativity....except i am pretty sure i wouldn't last long in the mormon group. i swear too much & like a glass of wine with lunch. & i sorta have a problem with rules. i would want to take all the lovely community, family, womanly bits & bathe in that for a while & then get a glass of wine. i don't need more than one glass but i like to have the choice. i am a bit 50percent when it comes to religion too i am afraid. it's just how god made me.....

ps...have you noticed how gorgeous the mormon girls are btw?? i have mentioned it to kelly before & apparently you have to be gorgeous to join up too...xxx

secret weapon

2010-02-22T11:31:00.000+10:00

it must be biggest loser time again....how do i know this? because i am hauling my arse around the neighbouhood trying to run....remember my attempts last year? well i do & it wasn't pretty. but i thought if caitlin can run, maybe i can try too....she is 180kg after all.

my wakeup call came when i was trying shorts on in target. i caught site of my arse in the rear view mirror in the change room & i tell you, i was scared! wtf is with that lighting in there. is it meant to be a beacon onto the biggest part of you?

anyhow, after my man hears the distress in my voice, he takes me to athlete's foot. i am a total newbie there & i am happy with the 18yo assistant's advice & self control at my plight.

well, now i have a secret weapon - i had no idea what a difference a good pair of shoes makes when trying this whole exercise caper. man, these shoes have wings! i can run....well, i am up to 4 minutes at a time, so no need for applause....

my other secret weapon is the bike pants that are under my shorts...to hold everything in & control the wobble. this is a good thing. especially for those running past me!

so, i stick with my mission for greater fitness. i have a girlfriend coming in april for a visit, so i have a goal. goals are good. maybe i just need to do a weekly visit to the target change room to keep me motivated.....

random pretty little things

2010-02-14T15:46:00.000+10:00

sometimes it's just nice to browse. to smile on the inside. to escape for a little while.

i had these photos in my file & i know i risk condemnation for not naming sources. but today i am lazy. so, sorry, but enjoy.

i have my sister visiting unexpectedly for a few nights. she has a close friend here who is dying, so it is a difficult visit for her.

i am excited to see her though & wish she could stay longer.....

my thoughts are with his family & friends xxx

woof xxx

2010-02-14T15:29:00.000+10:00

one of the girls at work had herself a baby boy. i had these little doggy drawings of mine come to life in an appliqued singlet, softie & cuddly toy & popped them in a bag.

i think they are rather cute.

& i remembered to take a photo before posting them off.

table love...

2010-02-14T15:25:00.001+10:00

months ago i bought some very scruffy table legs on ebay. they were described as daggy....a bit like me really!

i snapped them up for $25. no-one thought i would do anything with them. no one could see the potential. i had an idea though.

look at them now!! with a bit of scrap pine, a screw driver and handsaw, i have myself a cute little console table....all for under $100. and just one blister & minimal swearing was involved too....

i love a bargain. and it has soul. and the legs have history. they come from an old church & are over 100 years old.

daggy, my arse! i am fucking brilliant i tell you....

2010-02-07T15:49:00.000+10:00

what i should be doing is the ironing....

i am bumming around here reflecting on my busy week & making a journal cover....that doesn't fit the diary it was made for, but fits a notebook. so not all is lost.

kids back into the swing of school & homework.

man still has 2 weeks off.

i am meant to be emailing my cv to someone.....god this job stuff is exhausting. no wonder people just can't be bothered & stay put. it's been 4 years since i've had to apply for anything. it takes energy...

other happenings this week....

i am wondering why i was having a conversation with my boys about not trying to pee with an erection....like i'd know to be honest!
where is that international man of mystery when it comes to these talks??
i am reading the girl most likely by rebecca sparrow. i am sure she was looking down on my life when she wrote it....a funny read & i love a girl that's not afraid of the f- word
career talk - one step forward & two back.
yoga...do i join up again?
wishing my baking mojo would return
skinny dipping alone...& a shower outside by the pool. the poor neighbours!
planning another girls night out with the cool chicks from work - they rock!

sad...prayers please

2010-01-28T17:27:00.000+10:00

please say some prayers for a small community close to my heart.
my niece was camping with some friends when a tragic accident occured....a friend has mistakenly driven his ute over other 2 friends asleep in their swags. they were just 19. my niece was there as they were celebrating a birthday. she and her boyfriend tried to save their friend's lives, but sadly they are gone.
speaking with my gorgeous niece yesterday has left me too sad for words....she was still in shock when we spoke. she was so brave though.
these kids all live in a very small community in country nsw. this town has been hit hard & there are many hearts breaking this week....especially all the parents involved & the poor lad who was driving.
please pray for them all xxx

part time....& perspective

2010-01-24T14:24:00.001+10:00

the other day i was surprised....one of the young kidless doctors-in-training at work was excitedly chatting to me. she discovered i only worked 2 days a week. kaz, what do you do for the rest of the week if you are only here 2 days? she asked with her cute little smile....she was actually genuinely interested & intrigued at the same time.

i simply smiled & said that i did things that bought me joy, cared for my 2 boys, had an international man of mystery as a husband (think more austin powers than james bond) & that life was pretty fulfilling enough without working fulltime.

we had a short discussion about how great it is to be a part of my childrens lives & manage a bit of a career in between. it got her thinking she said. she had never thought that being a part time obstetrician was an option. i know several great female obstetricians who do just that & for who money is not the untimate goal & that family is very important. you could see the light bulb go off above her head. i told her just to think outside of the square & be confident if you want something, you can make it work.

then about 20 minutes later, i felt a little guilty.... for a moment, i actually felt selfish for having time for friends & coffees, sewing & craft & a bit of lazing about.

then i kicked myself....hello girl! i have had 2 boys who i adore & will be out the door within years....or maybe not according to current stats! i have been around for school drop offs & pickups, tuckshop, classroom help, when they are sick, i know their friends & their friends' mums, they talk to me about private stuff & even girls.... i have worked shift work for over 20 years - shit that is bloody tiring i tell you. i cook & clean & make nutritious snacks...yes & the cakes & muffins too but at least i know what is in them.

for anyone that doesn't have kids, these tasks have no real time value. i used to be the same. i used to think....why are these colleagues bothering to come in here 2 days a week. they are mere weekend warriors. what are they really giving? yes & i even admitted to thinking it to the current fulltimers.

well the first thing i got as a mother was perspective people. everything suddenly got put into its place of priority. in my never ending sleep deprived state, work was not the major focus of my life. i realised i was replaceable at work. i just got it & i was humbled.....

now, when i look around me at work. here is what i see.

the young & fearless gen-y who are totally ignorant of the pitfalls of the ladder climb & the responsibilty they crave...they have balls & live in a state of ignorant bliss - i remember being there with my balls. i do. there are some in this group who are just biding their time for something easier to come along...
the older near-retirement totally over it all ones who are worn out from too many years of shift work & not looking after themselves...& maybe not getting enough sex...just a thought.....like i'd really know!
and my group in the middle - the part timers who want some work-life balance &/or are gradually increasing their hours at work as their kids grow....& we are tentatively stepping on that ladder again...but we are pissed because we seem to be doing all the freakin work! we are growing balls again though & we are wise souls who should not be underestimated. trust me, if you can wrangle a toddler & survive it, you can fucking do anything!

so there you have it. my little bit. i may only work 2 days a week but i enjoy it, i give it my all & i still have energy for those i love & i still get to do coffee at paddo without the crowds! life it good i tell you.
never feel guilty for having perspective & priorities people.

and before i get any complaints, i know it is every woman's right to be what she wants to be ie full time mum/part time mum/single mum/full time worker mum etc....personally i chose what suits me & my little family. that's all....

tellytubbies anonymous....

2010-01-22T09:38:00.000+10:00

i fear i may have somehow morphed into a tellytubby in the last 6 months.
i am feeling a tad round in the middle & when i look in the mirror i see a big moon head...wtf?
being short is a curse i tell you....& being lazy is not helping!
my man just landed in hong kong & i have no work for 10 days, so it is my main mission to find a tellytubbies anonymous & sign up for some fitness here in telletubby land. i am sure i can find some green rolling hills to run around in...
i was hoping that wearing a sports bra to work meant i was doing exercise but hey, it's not working for me.
time for a bike ride today....

hearts...

2010-01-22T09:28:00.000+10:00

valentines day.
mean anything to you?
it seems out of proportion big in some parts of the world. not?
for me....i don't like to get caught up in the commercialism of it all. i think we get enough of that every other day.
and it is the day i was divorced all those moons ago...kind of funny eh?
i still feel queezy for all the champagne i drank that night...& vomiting for hours afterwards.
so, i think i'll leave valentines day to the heart experts!
these hearts are from maggiemakes & are mighty cute though...

go crafters!

2010-01-22T09:19:00.000+10:00

just a little note to say craft hope have raised over $20,000 for doctors without borders from their little etsy shop. it is closed for now while they catch their breath as they have been a little overwhelmed with the generosity. makes you feel good doesn't it!
my thoughts are for those trying to get through every day in haiti xxx

crafty help for haiti

2010-01-16T14:27:00.002+10:00

as this is also a year for me to contribute to the community more...i just found this when updating my blog. the very talented jodie at ricrac has given the link for craft hope. they have set up an etsy store with all the proceeds going to doctors without borders. i know of a midwife who regularly goes on missions with this group & i have confidence that they do wonderful work. if you are crafty, why not contribute something....

dexter

2010-01-16T12:05:00.000+10:00

this is my new addiction. i get extremely anxious watching it but i need my fix each night. we are up to series 2 now & we are hooked. i cannot explain it & am trying not to overanalyze my fascination with a serial killer but it is great viewing....but i can only watch it with my man....not alone!

the universe...

2010-01-16T11:55:00.000+10:00

i do believe in putting your dreams out to the universe...not totally in the secret sort of obsessive way but just in a purely positive way.

i have really struggled this fortnight with being positive - mostly on the work front. but yesterday i put on my sparkly mac eyeshadow to get to work & told myself to get over it all & realise that this is my year.

well i tell you what...it worked. within minutes of stepping foot in the door new opportunities presented themselves to me....well that was after i stopped gasping for breath after walking the 120 steps to my floor as punishment for not riding my bike that morning..

i have 2 jobs to apply for now & i am staying positive. i know it will be competetive but i am up for the challenge. i am moving on i tell you. and leaving the misery behind. i got great encouragement from people i respect & if they have faith in me, then why shouldn't i??
i also got to deliver a gorgeous baby boy for an amazing family. so all good really.

i am being told that this year is a great year for me & to stay focused & positive...well it's about fucking time!

yes i know i have shown you this print before but it found me again & it is sooo cute. it's from here.

2010-01-11T12:45:00.001+10:00

found this cute quote at a pretty trip that i discovered today.

feeling a little sad to say goodbye to friends who have been staying. you know...easy friends....no hard work involved...a pleasure to have...& now they are missed.
friends we have known for 15 years. our husbands all met doing airtraffic control together. all 3 are still in the aviation industry, but different positions. one even flies for my mate richard...

now we have children aged 17 months to 17 years....& they are all amazing kids. all of our travels have seen us in darwin & canberra together & it doesn't matter how long it's been between visits...it's all just so easy & lovely. and now i miss them & their gorgeous girls. thankfully one lot are living here is this town now, so i get coffees & cuddles more often. the others are in canberra which seems too far away today,,,

tomorrow we are off to the noosa river fishing with our boys. we are set to test the new rods out. it means an early start but i am really looking forward to a family day in the sunshine....life is good!

eye candy

2010-01-06T17:18:00.001+10:00

this is my sort of eye candy. i am over the cute boy variety....a few lazy days have enabled me to sift through the amazing world out there for some great eye candy...& because i am so lazy with adding new links to some fave blogs...take a peek.

a creative mint
my happy little life
leo on the loose
ishandchi
eatdrinkchic
domestifluff
mondocherry

photo from a creative mint....check the archives for amazing delicious photos!
more later xx

a great cause...join up!

2010-01-06T16:22:00.001+10:00

i have just joined a great cause to help those less fortunate than us. it was started by the talented author bec sparrow & entails donating a mere $10 to a different cause each month for a year.
it is called the first sunday club & as soon as i read about it in the sunday mail, i was in.

and before anyone pulls the old "the money never gets to them" attitude fresh from the 1970's, please give with your heart & have some faith. it's just a miserable excuse you are creating & the world needs less misery, not more.

so, for a mere $10 this month, we are supporting http://www.onethousand.org/ & are helping women & children in afghanistan & pakistan. it is super quick & easy to join & i am sure we could all find/redirect this small amount each month for something great like this!

multiple personalities...

2010-01-06T15:59:00.001+10:00

i am a tad exhausted from dealing with the multiple personalities that i deal with at work...colleagues mostly. see, the cool chicks are all on holidays & lets just say that the others are sort of getting to me. i have to figure out their individual multiple personalities as well as get my head around the gen y factor - which to me is a total cop-out of a label & seems to be used when no-one wants to face reality & put these people in their place...don't get me started.

maybe i am the problem?

i am trying to remember what i was like in my 20's....and god i hope i was not like what i now see around me. i shudder to think really. i know i was on a mission to get to the middle east after a short time playing wife with the white picket fence in paddington. it just wasn't me...everyone else wanted it but i ran far far away. i figured i was the problem back then too...

then there are the spinsters who hate everyone & everything & are more likely to continually talk about their long list of health problems & family disputes than ask how anyone else is.

my biggest fear is that i am becoming more like the spinsters except i have sex slightly more often - i hope!

colleagues are hard work sometimes aren't they? surely others have this problem?? we are thrown together for x number of hours in a week when really, we would never have enough in common to stick together for a coffee at chermside together. they probably feel the same about me....

i think my problem is....i miss my buddies & the laughs we have & the old days when you were allowed to joke & laugh & sit around eating popcorn sometimes . i guess this isn't the 90's anymore though is it? but sometimes we need comic relief & i am telling you, sometimes it's laugh or cry...

discovery & rediscovery

2010-01-04T20:14:00.001+10:00

new year. new goals. yes?
i am going to call it my year of rediscovery.

firstly, i am thanking 2009 for being my year of discovery....
i discovered that what i call obsessive behaviour is what others apparently call finishing a task
i discovered i do actually like myself & i really enjoy the simple things in life
i discovered that all is not what it seems
i discovered that people do show their true selves eventually...there is only so much hiding one can do
i discovered how to say no & not feel as guilty as i used to
i discovered it is ok to trust that little inner voice & that i should listen more attentively
i discovered i can stick at something & continue to enjoy it...like this blog. this month it is a whole year old. if i thought anyone read it, i would offer a giveaway...cause i love free shit (not a new discovery)

now for the year ahead & the rediscovery of....
the joy of making things for my home
my passion for my job & new career goals...yet to be totally figured out! and i need to get over one of the worst days i have had in a while because right now, it all just sucks...but i live in hope!!
the joy in reading a great book
the joy in lazy days & even more family board games
the joy in my marriage of 14 years
friends who have been neglected these past few years
the joy of fitting into clothes & not looking & feeling like a freakin telly tubby
the art of riding a bike without falling off & having a random bogan honk their horn & laugh at me....i am sticking to the quiet areas around my suburb

on a high note...i have actually finished some projects this weekend. it is really rewarding. some are gifts. others are for my home. and i am in the middle of building a console table with the $25 legs i bought on ebay. lets just say this one is a work in progress...

on a random higher note...i discovered today that a colleague is married to a famous author. and i saw her today. but, shit, i didn't realise who she was until she was gone....now i am going to look like a stalker. i have already told him i am totally in love with his wife. so maybe i sound like a stalker already....like when i strode up to richard branson & called him richard & asked for an autogragh...when everyone else looked airbrushed & were calling him mr branson & he was about to conduct a wedding ceremony in san francisco...but hey, i got the autograph!

merry christmas...

2009-12-24T17:06:00.001+10:00

yes, it is christmas eve & i have only just made my wreath & put it on the front door...excuse the photo as i am banned from going out the door. apparently santa is hard at work on something not for my eyes..and the photo is from my iphone.

frankly i am grateful for the end of this year. it has been a shocker for us & i look forward to starting afresh soon.

but we survived it.....well, 5 out of 6 of us survived it. sadly our budgie died a month ago. and i had nothing to do with it. i am still missing him as we had many great memories with that guy. remember the vindaloo dive, the survival of his pedicure & the cornflour rescue? for those who are new, read my posts about this famous little bird.
the rest of the year went a bit like this:

hysterectomy - check
man mid-life crisis - check
worst in-laws in the world - check
best kids report cards ever - check
best friends ever - check
best boys ever - check
boosted inner strength - check
more grey hair - check
some finished craft - check
alot of unfinished craft - check

i have a lot to be grateful for & i am blessed with some wonderful people around me.
take care & i wish you all a merry christmas & happy new year.
i am off to finish making the rum punch & maybe have a taste test or two.

pre-christmas meltdown

2009-12-21T12:45:00.002+10:00

i warned my husband yesterday i could feel a pre-christmas meltdown coming....you know when you know you are about to be a real bitch but just cannot stop yourself. or is that just me?
i have nothing to complain about really. but i think my hormones are just telling me to tread lightly & a pre-warning for the family is always a great idea wouldn't you say?
my remedy for times like this:

retreat to my study for uninterrupted craft/pretending to craft time
coffee & a new magazine
no household chores.....i can dream!
no one asking me to do something for them...not even get lunch!!

i tried these remedies yesterday afternoon & i had not longer than 10 minutes alone before i had to be interrupted....so, i fear my meltdown may still happen.
i absolutely adore my family & having the boys on holidays but i am also the sort of girl who needs some space too....unlike a certain gorgeous friend who cannot bare her own company......
anyhow, with the boys already being on holidays for 3 weeks & my man also home on long service leave, i have been managing my time in the car on the way to work. and it's not actually working for me people. i am heading off soon for an hour out alone...just a million other shoppers for company!
like a said.....meltdown coming.....you were warned!

ps...photo from flicker

ho ho ho...& a knicker mystery

2009-12-10T12:31:00.001+10:00

well i hope you are all more organized than me for this cheery part of the year. november was full of high hopes but my shopping died in the arse big time....even after my great start.

well i got busy....sydney with my mum for a weekend of cafes, window shopping, shopping for me, dancing in the crowd at mamma mia, drinking wine. and that was just sydney.

then a few days at the coast with my boys and man....tennis, monopoly, movies

and then straight after night duty, a quick sleep & off to our little work xmas party. loads of yummy indian food, champagne, wine & a sleepover for me at a girlfriends house.

and then a 2 day recovery. i am so not wine fit at the moment.

and then straight back into work where i never seem to even get to pee, eat or hang with the other cool chicks. same old story....no staff, many babies arriving.

i figured it must be the silly season though as after work yesterday i found my knickers in my bag i take to work...i know i left the house with a pair on. and i returned home with a pair on......so i have a knicker mystery on my hands....& i don't think i shall go on further about that!

and next week it is a friends catch up for kids, dinner with friends, haircuts, a 40th birthday for my man & hopefully the xmas shopping. i struggle with being in the regular saturday morning crowds at the shops, so i will be needing all the help i can get to brave the shops next week. they tell me it is crazy already.

ps... this gorgeous wreath is from here with the tutorial. if only i had time to sit & make it. it is absolutely gorgeous!

cuckoo & freezer paper....help!

2009-11-18T14:29:00.003+10:00

ok blogworld. need your help. i need a cuckoo clock on a budget. so, i am thinking of stencilling one...like with freezer paper...cause i hear it's dead simple. one big problem. no american freezer paper here that i can get my hands on quickly. well, not that any has come to my attention...
so, after emailing one blogger & obviously sounding like a complete lunatic, i am putting it out to the universe. this usually works for me.
so, if you know where i can buy some here in aus, or if you are a blogger willing to do me a favour & post some to me, please email me. i am happy to pay for it!! just not what they charge per sheet as some online shops.
as an aside, i had my appointment with my psychic friend for some questions i had for him...i was wearing my cuckoo clock brooch. as i do. and he tells me his guide is pointing at my brooch giggling & telling him to look...he then tells me i am completely mentally stable even though i am wearing a cuckoo clock. but i knew that already thanks very much!
my friend will be cuckoo too with her little one for christmas....

ps my brooch from from here. love her style & blogged about her before. doesn't it just make you smile...in a mentally stable sorta way!!

hot mess!

2009-11-17T17:41:00.002+10:00

no, not britney....me!
i am hot & my house is a mess!
it was about 36 degrees here today & it was so hot i even got in the pool with the boys after school. i am a get in real quick, cool off without getting my hair wet sort of swimmer. you know the type....in & out before i get splashed too much. boys don't get it.
i would much rather head in after dark for a quiet nudie swim when everybody is asleep....well they were supposed to be asleep. we got sprung one night by the kids! very funny story but will spare you the details...at least until another time.
just wanted to say a quick thanks to all the LDS girls who have emailed me/left a comment. you are all so sweet & i wish i could come to one of your crafty sessions....more on LDS again soon.
today was about orthodontists, keeping up fluids, trying the new bakery - choc brownie, carrot cake & cupcakes all winners...it was too hot to cook, cooling down & delaying the housework another day....all in all a lazy day. but i needed it!
ps...photo is not my pool but cool eh? i think it came from realestate.com.au but found it months ago...

tote tote...

2009-11-13T10:56:00.001+10:00

tote making. like little handbags. you know. not for the groceries but for a magazine, sunnies, phone & a quick trip to the beach...or shops.
for my shop. feeling nervous about revealing them to the world though.
i have been channelling my inner nanna & rediscovering my crochet skills too. my totes will have a little embellishment to make them extra spesh.
and i am on the job designing some other bits..... like only i can do..... all in my head spinning around.
psss..photo from iphone....batteries dead in camera

LDS...

2009-11-10T10:53:00.001+10:00

remember when you were a kid in closed-minded rural australia...well maybe i am reliving my childhood...but you get the idea. well, i remember growing up in a world where there was no other religion other than being a catholic...& you certainly didn't question it or dare to think the hip cute new priest in town was actually cute...i was 18!
as i grew up & saw the locals praying on sundays & banging someone else's husband/wife during the week, i started to question a few things. & no one could really answer my questions adequately. i have no idea why i was dressed up like a miniature bride & confirmed at the age of 12? the best thing about midnight mass on christmas eve was the drinking session at the local pub afterwards...
lets just say i got skeptical & ditched the whole religion thing. instead, i explored the world, different religious points of view & the spiritual world. & i am glad to say i am a better person for it.
the thing is, i keep bumping into the wonderful women of the church of latter day saints. i have been known to hide from answering the door when they come knocking at home, but in the blog world, they are the amazing crafters, mothers & bloggers that i follow & then realise they are LDS. then i pick a new book up & discover a few pages in that it is about a LDS family caught in the middle of the murder of their young daughters....so i am a tad curious. they are quite the community & they have such great support for one another. & big families to share the load......
must visit cjanes site & read some more.....

november...yeeks!

2009-11-10T10:21:00.001+10:00

i feel like i am forever recovering from night duty. all it takes is a bad sleep - like 5 hours in 48 hours - & i am screwed! but i am back now & have 2 weeks off to bum around....well, craft, clean, shop, cook, pretend i am busy.
but a few good things.......
i have started the christmas shopping - & that never happens
i have an appointment with someone cool who can help me with my little inner voice
my man will be on long service leave for 10 weeks very soon - this could end badly as he has never had so much time on his hands & he is only just beginning to learn how to truly relax. but i hold high hopes. & i have a big list to keep him going!
i had a great chat to my gorgeous talented sister yesterday after way too long of missing one another
the alternative christmas dinner for work is all arranged & secret santas texted. see, i cannot be all schmoozy with peeps i don't like/respect. it is just not me. life is too short. so, a friend & i have sorted an alternative with just 9 of us from work...drinks & dinner & we are keeping it quiet!

and a few bad things....
my man is away for the best part of 3 weeks - like here one minute, ordering room service the next kind of scenario
the advent calendar will not be finished for this year....maybe for the grandchildren

pssss. these a few things the talented sis is working on. the cake tins are a fab gift that you can fill with homebaked goodies. & the bobby pins are to die for....email me if you are interested. she may kill me but i am so proud of her!

wondering...

2009-10-22T09:01:00.001+10:00

wondering how could it really be nearly the end of october

wondering what tinned pumpkin is really made of

wondering if we really need a puppy

wondering if i will ever get the ironing back on track

wondering if our youngest still really does believe in santa...he suspects his brother is the tooth fairy...

wondering if our eldest will still have a broken heart this afternoon after his mate asked jess out...the very same jess that makes his own heart melt

wondering how i will make it out of bed at 0515 tomorrow to get to work...........

ahead of the times

2009-10-07T13:56:00.000+10:00

i have an idea...my man always gets nervous when i say this...but it's a better plan than before. i used to have an online shop when the internet was newish & paypal was seen as scary & to be avoided & banks charged ridiculous merchant fees. so, i figure i was ahead of the times. now with etsy & online retailers everywhere i know this for a fact.

my other problems were....i don't like the hard sell, i was shy about my shop, i didn't want people to feel pressured to buy anything....so i was crap at marketing. not good when it's a business....oh & i liked to give people a little extra & wrap things extra special....again, not good for the money side of things! i sold other people's stuff & i was fussy about the quality & wanted something a little different. unique stock became harder to source as the internet became more popular....more peeps discovered the same gems as me.

so, i had to let it go. it was like a hobby more than a business & i didn't want to put more time & energy into it. i needed a breather & less pressure. i had other priorities.

but, now i have decided an etsy shop would be right up my alley....it will suit my style...lazy!
i can make bits when it suits me & when i am in that lovely manic phase of creativity. and sit on my arse drinking coffee when i feel the need to also. so, lets give it a go i thought. and i still have a million stickers & bits & pieces that come with having had a store....but..

i have been unable to remember my password when i created the etsy store to match my other store...that was 18 months ago. there was no help from etsy as i had dropped the associated email account also. i had to remember the password or choose another name. i tried everything i had ever had for a password & some ridiculous ones just in case...nothing for months & months.

then this week, i dreamed it & i got up & punched it into the computer & magically i was in! it made me smile.

so, no promises for when, but i will have an etsy store.....called yummymummygifts coming to you soon!

and no, i am not the yummy mummy & all up myself....nor am i a slummy mummy either. more like something normal-ish in between. like most mums. you've all heard the term & it is catchy & people remembered it. it was all good.

so there you have it. just don't hold your breath because i have more night duty this week.....that sucks & it makes me tired.

wet my pants....nearly!

2009-10-07T11:37:00.001+10:00

oh my god i nearly wet my pants when i saw these...especially the chandelier & mixmaster. i think i may need both!

there is obviously an excess of acrylic & laser cutters in melbourne....wtf?? i have discovered 3 stores down there in 5 minutes doing this style. what's not to like about it though??

these are all from betsyblonde & i am all over them!

red loves black...still

2009-10-07T11:06:00.001+10:00

i always knew red loves black & they are still great together. this weeks fetish is the brooch. my fave broke during winter. i am after a newbie. after a little search on etsy i still can't pick a fave but these made me smile....& we all need a smile...i even found a little something for real doctors too!

top row...pinderella, cupcakesandmace, cupcakesandmace

middle row...cupcakesandmace, lacanica, anotherempire

bottom row...lacanica, pinderella, littleshopof

yes, there is a necklace or 2 in there but way too cute to exclude....& did you see batman kissing robin??

hearing voices...

2009-10-07T10:20:00.001+10:00

i've had hunches before...i judge peeps the minute i meet them...i get feelings....but all of a sudden in the last few months, i am totally freaking myself out with my little inner voice. lets just say the little voice is yelling at me & i am actually listening now....thanks for that! i get it. ok.

some stuff i have known of late i cannot reveal for personal reasons but yesterday at work i heard my little friend loud & clear. i met my patient & within 5 minutes of meeting her i had the paperwork out on the table for her emergency....that happened 2 hours later.

yes, it should have been an easy peasy third baby arriving for a delightful mum & her partner. but i insisted on telling the doctor to be careful...several times...like a nagging wife. he is young & a real doctor now & sort of looked at me as if i was crazy...he started her induction. all went well for a while...you don't need all the details & it won't make sense unless you are in my business. they call it a cord prolapse & it's the real deal emergency...i get to leave my fingers in, keep pushing baby's head back off the cord, stay on her bed while she is basically upside down...& we are connected like that until she gets a general anaesthetic & her baby is born via emergency caesarean. so, there i am, under her sheets in theatre reminding the real doctor not to cut my fingers off....saying thank you to my little inner voice....

that gorgeous baby girl has a shiloh pitt mouth & my 2 fingerprints on her head. and she is gorgeous & healthy. thank you little inner voice! i promise to keep listening....xxx

my head...

2009-09-25T08:57:00.001+10:00

my head has either been up my own arse, up someone elses....(yes i was back at work last week) or on my pillow....night duty style. it's a blurr really.

last week i was back into the swing of work with welcome back night duty. it went well & it was nice to see some of my colleagues smiling faces again. some of the grumpy ones made me smile on the inside too....some people are just born miserable.

it was an eventful week...a family member who we never hear from decides to ask us for $5000 to bandaid his extravagant lifestyle that has busted big time....he tried some emotional blackmail & tried to sound as if it was a matter of urgency, but no money for him i am afraid. we called it tough love! and besides, no spare $5000 lying around under my mattress.

our gorgeous 10yo was on school camp & became sick. he ended up very unwell & was hospitalised with iv's over the weekend. he was really brave & i was so proud. he even remembered his manners when he was so sick...unlike the pottymouth mother with her teen daughters beside us. my son was too sick to comment at the time but the following day he turns to me & says well mum, at least we don't have to listen to that potty mouth mother any more. that was disgusting!

i swear at work - alot - but not in front of my patients or my kids....there was this one time...it involved a removalist truck blocking our street when we were running late for school & i wasn't sure if i actually said fucking hell out loud or just in my head...turns out it wasn't just in my head! but only the older one heard & talked to me about it a few days later...oops!

ps this lovely leo necklace is from marmar & there is some seriously cute stuff there.

robin hood...in the valley

2009-09-02T10:13:00.001+10:00

wow yesterday i had robin hood cut my hair. i kid you not. fair dinkum.
i walked into my hairdressers in the valley & here is my guy in green tights, mocassins & flowing shirt....definitely straight from sherwood forrest. i had to look away so as not to giggle. i love him but it was hilarious. to him, it was normal workwear. just doing his thing. instead of bow & arrow, he packs scissors & a ghd....& doesn't bat an eyelid. thankfully his package was spared as it was hidden under his flowing shirt. when men wear tights it seems impossible not to check it all out....wouldn't you agree? maybe that's just me though...
men in tights....not so sure. but wouldn't it be so cool to feel that confident & pull the look off....

ice queen

2009-08-28T11:26:00.001+10:00

so, i hear there is a great way of ridding yourself of annoying peeps in your life...interested?
ever have someone who makes your life miserable, makes work difficult, who you would rather not be around you so much?
i have the answer.
put them in the freezer....well, write their name on paper & put it in the freezer. i have it on good authority that this very scientific method works. i am unsure how long it takes, but apparently they will go...move on to another job, move interstate, leave....no blood involved. no authorities knocking on your door...all good.
secretly, we put someone on ice this week.....she is a total pain in someone's arse & life would be better all round if she moved on....& my theory is that it won't take long as she is such an ice queen already. she is on the top shelf just for good measure....

hey as an aside/coincidence...i have just watched my first episode of dexter. i have all 3 series. don't think i'll be addicted like weeds but it has potential....and i may have more ways of ridding peeps from your life! kidding!

tradies

2009-08-28T10:42:00.001+10:00

i sit here waiting for the electrician to turn up...who was meant to be here 2 days ago & finally got back to me to rearrange for this morning. his time slot is rapidly running out. do they think we have all day to sit around & wait?
what if i came to work 2 days late....sorry i got held up with the last job....but i am here now to charge you a ridiculous amount of money for my services....the cash price is cheaper....and btw you get to clean up the mess afterwards....i don't think so people.
i wish i could charge what i think my services are worth....see i have diplomas & degrees out the bazoonga...6 years of study in fact....a year of being treated like a moron & being yelled at for wearing the wrong coloured stockings - thanks to midwifery training at ipswich maternity...bed making skills to die for....the ability to spot a wanker from 100 yards....& knowing when to get my gloves on.
so a sparky plays with a few wires....when he finally bothers to turn up!
with all their cash work it is no wonder they can afford to be at the tavern for lunch.

attention span m.i.a.

2009-08-28T10:30:00.001+10:00

i think my attention span got removed with my uterus. i just haven't been able to concentrate on anything for long....worse than usual.

but yesterday i finished something. i had this idea in my head & finally played a bit. needs tweaking & refining but thought it looked cute. i may be delusional & just in a happy place for merely finishing something though...

the photo is crap. no light. but you get the drift. there is a little cloud up in the right hand corner that you can barely see. it is a mixture of hand & machine stitching & the blue blob is a butterfly. the photo is very dodgey! so are my embroidery skills...

so there you have it. another useless project for a little girl. the boys in my life just don't appreciate all of my amazing talent & hard work....the garage sale pile is mounting up nicely.

41

2009-08-22T10:10:00.001+10:00

41 is so much more relaxing than 40. there was no pressure for parties & big ideas. it was just another day really....except i think this is the first birthday my man hasn't been here. due to work commitments, he has been in bangkok. my mum was here, so she organized pressies, dinner & flowers. so it was special. she took me to brunch at annok in paddington. highly recommended. perfectly hot flavourful coffee & spicy tortilla with red pepper, chilli. poached egg, harissa & lemon. it was yummy & my sorta brunch. i will definitely be back there.....

come to think of it, this week has been all about enjoying the sunshine, checking some shops out & brunches & lunches.

checked out coming up roses in bulimba & bought a few treats for friends, lunched at bulimba & shopped some more.....in fact, we have paced ourselves but achieved alot.

i have been spoiled having mum here to do the jobs i don't get around to or cannot do at the moment. she has ironed, scrubbed, washed, fluffed & generally done amazingly. i don't think we have ever had quality time alone together & i have never appreciated her like i have this week. she is still laughing at my crafty projects, kooky knitting style & half-baked ideas. maybe she saw a side of me she didn't know too.....

knit one purl one

2009-08-17T15:21:00.002+10:00

my mum is visiting for the week as my man is in bangkok for work all week. so i get to sit back & have her spoil me...& teach me to knit!

our first lesson was today & it wasn't too shabby. there was much laughter from her as she saw me struggle & look a little awkward. but i now know the basic stitches & buttonholes. all good for my little project in mind.

then i got to thinking....only as i do....that a cute little egg cozy may get me in the mood & encourage me to finish a simple little project. so my search began. of course i instantly fell in love with this adorable one & now nothing else compares....when really, i needed simple, plain, finishable....my search continues but i do dream....

and i don't even like boiled eggs! wtf??

go here & buy it...i am having problems even joining...but of course i would! remember i have blogged about julie before...

fun & whimsey

2009-08-13T09:02:00.001+10:00

here are some great little bits that would make a cute project for a kiddie/baby room. funny how i never had time nor energy for any of these things when mine were babies....

but that's the thing....i finally have time to do stuff i enjoy. being a mum is the best thing in the world. it is exhausting at the same time but now my boys don't need my physical help anymore, i get to spend some time & energy on me.

we didn't have any family around when it would have been handy....i still remember the toddler days & sleep deprived insanity of sick babies. we are so used to just managing ourselves. not relying on anyone for help. maybe a little too fiercely independent. but that is us.

now i have time....yes, i am at home recovering & have the luxury of 6 weeks off work....but even apart from that, i feel very lucky to have breathing space to appreciate the things that bring me joy.

it is simple stuff like reading a book, flipping through a new magazine, planning & decorating the home, making baby gifts for friends, meeting friends for lunch...

i feel like we are starting a new phase as a family too....the boys contributing to ideas for a family holiday, thinking about making more time as a couple, enjoying quieter relaxing time as a couple & as a family....really enjoying one another. less stress. more independence. less urgency. more about the individual needs. more fun. more whimsey!

the origami cranes are from madebyjo & the crochet flowers are by anniedesign....cute!

more house of turquoise love

2009-08-11T20:11:00.001+10:00

bedroom secrets...

2009-08-11T19:26:00.001+10:00

no not those kinds of bedroom secrets..... but

i stumbled across house of turquoise yesterday & there is so much to love & so much inspiration here, i cannot imagine not feeling in the mood with these bedrooms... i am well known for my love of white & i had decided that my other bedroom colour would be aqua/teal/turquoise....you get the drift. so this site was a perfect start.

i love the headboard in this particular photo. and it looks so fresh & relaxing...

i have been warned to do one room at a time. my man knows just how side tracked i can become. the good news is i am nearly finished our eldest son's room. i managed to get 2 more rugs from ebay on friday - one for his room & one for the loungeroom. they should be delivered any day now. then just a few more wall details & he will be ready to rock & roll. the fact that he is hanging out in there alot more tells me i have done ok.....maybe i'll take some photos when it is actually complete...and clean & tidy!

cleaner language for amish day

2009-08-10T16:39:00.001+10:00

well apart from being relieved, i think my cleaner is in the clear. i ammended my swearing rant from yesterday....i do have a potty mouth. not around kids! but i definitely like the f word & sometimes forget that others don't share my enthusiasm....so i cleaned up my post.

i met my cleaner this morning & she won me over & appears mumsy in a good cleaner way. she said all the right things...in a cleaner way. phew....i may just trust her to do the right thing...

and today has been amish day in our house....formerly known as technology free day. i thought i'd rename it to excite the boys. they were less than enthusiastic but rediscovered their inner chess skills, sorted out their bedrooms, folded washing, took rubbish out & ate ham rolls for lunch. that's as amish as we get. no fields to plough, no loom for weaving...they were rewarded with time back on technology late this afternoon. besides, i was exhausted & needed my amish arse on the couch with the laptop! but it is good to regularly remind them that things can be done without technology. i actually love these days & although they would never admit it, they get by without too many whinges. today they embraced it wholeheartedly.

cushion love

2009-08-09T17:06:00.001+10:00

i normally make the cushions around here but i am loving this! go to this gorgeous store & you will find more of the ruffles...i found this etsy store via a blog by the name of ishandchi & i love her style & her art. check it out....& she is an aussie!

i am trying to find inspiration for our bedroom that is in dire need of some styling....on a budget.
i am keen to frame some wallpaper of just stick some on an mdf board & hang over the bed. i have lots of empty walls to bring some life into.

and i have bedside tables to spray white. anyone ever used a sprayer for painting furniture? i am thinking of visiting my friendly bunnings guy soon for advice.

and i need to make a bedhead...maybe padded. maybe wall papered within a frame. maybe i don't have a clue....

but these things keep me awake at night. these & drafting the letter of complaint to my private hospital where i recently had my surgery....remember the $100 stolen while i was actually undergoing surgery? the male nurse thing is for another post.....lets just say no to equality here & leave them in their boy jobs...they are crap at actually caring for people! just let them climb the ladder already! like i said....for another post.

gin & the maid...

2009-08-09T16:02:00.001+10:00

last night my soon to be cleaner calls me to arrange a meeting...all good, except i had already had 2 gin & tonics & our youngest is telling me the maid is on the phone. to him, this is a hotel & he figures it's about time the maid turned up.

anyhow, my help is asking if i mind if she brings her 9yo daughter along...wtf? i responded with well i wasn't really expecting that to happen...meaning, i am f%*&g paying you to clean, not for me to be your babysitter!! the gin helped to relax me & i think she got the message...that she needed to make other arrangements...

am i too harsh? if she had been my cleaner for a few years & she was stuck for a babysitter, then maybe i'd be ok. but i haven't even bloody met her yet....& i am paying her to clean right? what do you think?

lazy sunday

2009-08-09T15:57:00.001+10:00

making french toast, bacon & eggs for brekkie
baking & eating sponge cake filled with jam & cream
baking coconut bread for added incentive to have better breakfasts
finishing a little arty project
being blissfully relaxed & losing track of the time

my sunday has been filled with lazy baking, irregular eating & loads of relaxing....perfect!

flamingo love...

2009-08-07T15:46:00.001+10:00

watch dryspell gardening this week? remember my hotness that is brendan moar? see the funky garden he did for a seriously cool & kooky couple? totally loved it. see the flamingoes? no? well, never mind then.....you should have though!

found this today via twig&thistle & thought it was cute & unexpected. who knew that flamingoes would be the new cool thing in town?

outsourcing

2009-08-05T15:24:00.001+10:00

i just read how auntycookie is outsourcing her cleaning. it's the new black. i have never had a cleaner before...not that i haven't wished & prayed for one....but i have someone coming in next week for the next few months. it was as though auntycookie was in my mind i swear.

friends have had cleaners.....some stories are great & others involve cleaners drinking all the alcohol in the house, stealing money & jewellery, having boyfriends over....i kid you not! but i am prepared to give it a go. there is very little alcohol in the house, no worthwhile jewellery lying around & i will give her enough jobs so she won't have time for the boyfriend. and i am hoping she irons too.....

any recommendations? i have gone through an agency a friend is using, so i am hoping it works out. i may want to keep her permanently....now there's a thought!

quilting

2009-08-05T15:18:00.002+10:00

so this is the centre part of the play mat for miss j. she turns 1 this week & thankfully my friends are used to late gifts from me....it's sort of expected! so, i have much to do here...i need wheels though, so a job for next week when i am back behind the wheel. i thought if i put this here, i may be shamed into finishing it.....

double digits....& cross -stitch arse

2009-08-05T15:06:00.001+10:00

i am finally in the dreaded double digits for the advent calendar....who would've believed it? number 12, you are in my sites.

the plan was to sew up these little embroidered bags, pop a treat inside & hang them from something....that was meant to happen last year. never mind. thankfully for me, christmas happens every year. yeah...

my embroidery skills are very basic & it takes me quite a while to do each number. i just trace around a kikki-k set of sticky numbers i bought (they happened to be a good size), sit, thread my needle & strain my eyes (the contact lenses need to be even stronger i am sure).

i live in fear of developing cross-stitch arse....every lovely woman i know who cross stitches, has quite the ample arse. no judgements. just an observation....now cross stitch is not my thing - just saying - but i imagine if i finally finish 24 of these bags, my arse will be huge because it is impossible to sit & stitch without tea & biscuits.....

boys

2009-08-04T20:08:00.001+10:00

remember how i am redoing my eldest's room....redoing is probably the wrong word. it never really got decorated in the first place, so we are starting at the beginning.

well, we are getting there. we settled on the redblackwhite colour scheme & it looks fresh & cool. he has a serious set up coming together up there. so far, i have stuck to my budget. ikea is a godsend....it's just that the putting together part of ikea stuff always takes us an eternity to get done.

i am trying to bum a lift to officeworks this week to get the clipboards & desk accessories i need ....thanks clare at mondocherry for the source of her clipboards!

this baby of ours turned 13 yesterday & we celebrated by taking him for a nice dinner on saturday night @ kingsleys. he loves his steak (& they have prawns & crab for us non-cow-munching peeps) & had the best birthday dinner ever! they made just the right amount of fuss over him & were fantastic! later, my man & i cried some happy, proud tears & felt amazed at how quickly the years have passed.......but i am the proudest mum ever & am just loving how this young man is turning out....his brother is (& always has been) more of a challenge shall we say....but he is pretty cool too though.....they are impossible to compare (& who'd want to) & are so different in every way - i feel so blessed to have them both in my life & i try to never take it for granted. these guys are what make my life worthwhile. they make my heart sing!

i feel blessed that he is 13 & talks - not grunts- to me about everything (for how long, i am unsure), has a great sense of humour, is kind & considerate of others & is happy & healthy....& is already planning his gap year! travelling is in his genes!! go for it kiddo...

too cute

2009-08-04T19:44:00.002+10:00

this is too cute not to share....go here....pity the postage is more than the item.

i have been trawling the internet this afternoon...a bit like window shopping. i overdid it at chermside on the weekend...man that place is huge.....so i am resting up a bit today, having coffee with friends popping in & chatting on the phone. such luxury to just hang about!

i am also acting as my man's p.a. & researching hotels for his bangkok trip this month....not so much fun when i am not tagging along i can tell you. i did get a little side tracked & started researching a family holiday to hong kong....way too much time on my hands!!

dilemma

2009-07-30T15:29:00.002+10:00

my dilemma is....do i be honest & blurt out on my blog about my real life? do people really care?do people really want to know anyway? who am i writing this for anyway?
sitting on the couch in the sunshine, i am deciding that this blog was for me & i never really expected anyone to read it....in fact, only a handful of real life friends even know about it. and it was sort of meant to be about me & my journey....a totally selfish indulgence where i could write what i thought & write about my crafty obsessions that are often left unfinished.....and about my journey in this life....so here it is.....

on monday i had a hysterectomy. no gory details required. i am 40 & i never thought i would be having such surgery. in the end though, the other options failed me & with much anguish, i signed up....let me tell you, there is such a thing as ignorance is bliss!

having a nursing background definitely has its drawbacks when you are suddenly the patient. knowing what could go wrong has drawbacks...and, i have a husband who is allergic to the mere smell of a hospital. he is in constant pain when inside one....as a visitor. this is totally true & his pain is visible.

exhausting stuff....having to be checked in at 6am, put to sleep by 8am, had my gorgeous female doctor do her work on me for nearly 3 hours, have $100 stolen from my wallet while in surgery & vomiting for 12 hours takes its toll.... needless to say, i survived the ordeal & could not wait to leave 2 days after my surgery. the bags were packed & ghd cooling by the time my pale lonely poached egg arrived under it's steel dome for breakfast. private hospitals still do mass produced hospital food that is delivered by grumpy italian kitchen staff. and because i signed a form to release the hospital of any liability if anything was stolen, my $100 was an unfortunate incident....never mind that my bags were in their care while i was fucking anaesthetised!...this annoyed me as i had dreamt about this happening in the days leading up to my surgery & meant to give my husband the money from my wallet....sounds allison dubois crazy i know, but that is me i am afraid. so, doubly annoying that i knew it would happen & still did nothing about it....go figure....

so now, i get 6 weeks off work to recover & contemplate life without ever having a period again...sounds like bliss to me! the truth is....i don't actually have much pain. i haven't taken more than panadol & it all seems a little too good to be true. i get to sit & watch my husband do all the chores & ferry the boys to school. i am feeling a tad guilty but have been told by everybody to do nothing for a few weeks.....

so what's a girl to do? sit back, relax & place orders for tea as i see it.....seriously, it is hard to watch him do it all. and it is only day 3. the days are long. the daytime television is very bad....thank god for foxtel, the internet & wireless broadband i say. when i can drive in a few more weeks, all our lives will improve....

shopping....worlds worst shopper!

2009-07-23T20:59:00.001+10:00

so it's official....i am the worst shopper ever!
i hate grocery shopping....apparently i buy more cleaning products than food.
i hate clothes shopping - all too hard.
i love craft shopping but never get what i actually need.

yesterday, i followed in nerida's footsteps & got myself over to peppermint stitches....and left with nothing i went for & spent $100 on stuff for other projects...wtf?? remember my last post...a nice simple play/end of bed quilt to sew for a princess turning 1? well, i now have a really cute patchwork top of a quilt (urban chiks for moda fabric) that i sewed yesterday evening. i need to add a few blocks to the outside, put batting & back on, sew the binding....she may be 2 by the time she gets it!

and i fell in love with this layer cake of fabric to make my couch throws. these are gorgeous precut 10 inch squares of co-ordinating moda fabrics....i couldn't leave them there. i am tossing up whether to do a bed throw or lounge throw. it will tell me when it's done....that is my project for the next 6 weeks while i rest up post surgery.

with names like layer cakes & jelly rolls, how am i to resist....and the co-ordinating fabrics & precut squares takes the hard work out of it! i am such a fan now. and i saw the new amy butler range instore & i already have plans....in a 50percent sorta way of course!
i am still trying to justify to my husband the need for more fabric...men don't get it do they? he is at the nod & smile stage, so i may be lucky....

quilting

2009-07-20T09:51:00.001+10:00

yes, i slept through the mathilda's market....how was it? i must find out when the next one is. surely there will be another in a few months...so, for an alternative, i am off to peppermint stitches to stock up on some supplies for a few quilting projects i have in mind. well, i have something in mind & i am sure it will come together instore as i am lusting after more fabric to play with.

i want to do a little quilt for a gorgeous girl who turns one soon....& i think i will do this quick katie did one that i love the look of. i know this baby will be a toddler soon so i thought a little throw for her bed would be cute. or she could use it as a play mat when friends come over...i need to figure out the sizing though. any thoughts?

walls...

2009-07-20T09:47:00.002+10:00

i know these wall graphics are everywhere right now but i think i need something punchy to bring a few walls to life. these are from byrdiegraphics & there are some great ones to choose from. i know. i know. one project at a time.......

loves...old & new

2009-07-16T08:55:00.001+10:00

i am a list girl. it helps me to get things done.....sometimes... i like to mark things off as i do them. for some reason, i feel the need to share some latest loves. it is more of a list of a few little things i enjoy of late. i am on night duty for 3 nights & this will help to keep me happy & sane. night duty is a bit like being put in a bunker & it is difficult to remember the real world. i need things to look forward to when i resurface & this will help...if i am boring you already, then run for the hills now!
here are some loves...old & new:

dry spell gardening has returned & brendan moar just melts me. need i say more...or moar? his voice alone could rock me to sleep......
katy perry - her voice & i would also kill for that body!
masterchef - what will i do next week when it all ends?
rhubarb - i bought some at new farm markets, cooked it up with a few strawberries & it was total heaven....who knew? i had never tasted it before.
the other boleyn girl. i am reading the book & nearly cheated & watched the movie. it is a beautifully written book & something i wouldn't have read without my friend lisa's recommendation. it does reminds me how far women have come since the 1500's when some days, i do wonder....
pork belly - my step mum was cooking it for my dad's birthday last night & her recipe sounded delicious....she was so ahead of her time with her cooking. i gave her such a hard time when i was young & struggled with the whole step family thing. but she was one who inspired me & helped teach me to cook...i am thankful for her patience & perserverence with me!
blogs like these that i never find time to add to my list....katie did, flair to remember (for her quotes alone), wifestylefiles, mabelandlola, canberrasgotstyle

well, maybe that will be enough to remind me of the goodness that awaits when i come from the dark side. i am still trying to figure out a way to get to mathilda's market on sunday. i am not sure coffee will be enough fuel though. i finish work at 7am & have high hopes of staying awake to be there at 9.......like i said...high hopes!

what's doing?

2009-07-13T13:35:00.001+10:00

i haven't had much time or energy for blogging & crafting of late...in fact, i owe many peeps phone calls & emails & never seem to get around to it all. my sister will think i have fallen into an abyss....but she gets it.

i am still loving masterchef & the fact that poh is back. i will be lost when it finishes on sunday. i am not a regular tv viewer, so my addiction to masterchef surprises even me...like when i loved the biggest loser...who knew i had it in me??

loved being in the garden yesterday with my family. the boys got in & helped & commented on what a great family day it was...we transformed our front garden...we always thought our landscaper was a little too minimalist (now coming from me that is something). i cannot stop admiring our work & look forward to spring now as i remember how much i love gardening.

bed shopping for 13yo bedroom makeover.... it is super comfy. it is king single to accomodate his teen growth. it has a 10 year warranty.....but my man tells me we won't need it...that he'll be left home long before the warranty runs out...it dawned on me. shit, he is probably right. i cannot even begin to imagine family life without them being around. how does that happen? how does time just slip by & toddlers are suddenly teens..........really??

loving the thought of an ikea trip next week. i dare not attempt it in school holidays. i am not good with crowds at the best of times. am after some cool furniture for the bedroom makeover. i am trying hard to tackle one project at a time......really difficult i can tell you! it is like torture actually.

knit & bitch

2009-07-13T12:18:00.001+10:00

i saw this cute little project on domesticali & have delusions of grandeur that i will instinctively know how to knit such a thing....i remember knitting in year 11....& getting my mum to complete the jumper i never wore....and as it happens, i stumbled across tangled yarns while getting a fringe trim in the valley. they offer classes for knitting & crochet. i was instantly drawn to their little shop.....it had gorgeous yarn, books, projects, yummy muffins & real peeps in there knitting & crafting....and they looked like they were having such a relaxing time. i was on my way to work, so was on limited time. i need a little project like this for when it is inappropriate to haul a sewing machine around under my arm....
anyone interested in a knit & bitch class??? or anyone able to teach me the art of increasing & decreasing & fancy stuff like that?

boys...

2009-07-08T13:37:00.001+10:00

a horrible windy, cold day here today. been out for movies, bowling & donuts & now hiding from 4 boys having a school holiday get together....each of mine has a friend over.....don't get me wrong. they are fantastic kids but i do tend to hide away from the noise...they are boys & their voices are getting deep & they talk another language....especially after a transformers movie. and i cannot be bothered with the translation. thankfully they have their own entertainment....and i am pretty sure it doesn't involve girls...yet!

pincushion

2009-07-01T14:08:00.001+10:00

finally... i got around to making a pin cushion. i stumbled across heather bailey's cute little one & zipped it up in 20 minutes this morning. i was determined to make something today....been feeling a little craft deprived of late....not making time for sewing.

busy with orthodontists, bike riding, donut eating, movie renting madness that is the school holidays. what a gorgeous warm & sunny day here though. i love these sort of winter days. I am definitely a sunshine girl. i grew up in the cold & never want to go back to bone freezing conditions....i have one exception....christmas in new york or europe. that i could do.....yeah, that would be worth the cold!

poh

2009-06-30T10:22:00.001+10:00

i am still in love with poh. i miss her on masterchef. she is such a talented artist & i have given a huge hint to my man that one of her paintings is on my bucket list. if anyone hears of her exhibiting here in brisbane, please let me know.

just beautiful!

spoons

2009-06-30T09:31:00.002+10:00

remember my other post about these stamped spoons? a good friend needed some for her kiddies. i said give jo a call, she might be able to do something like that.........and look what happens in a few weeks. the lovely jo has gone & done it all by herself! lucky eh? such a sweet christening/first b'day/new arrival gift. in fact, i think i need one.....my man has an amazing knack of taking our teaspoons to work & them never coming home. teaspoons disappear here at an alarming rate. and it is the nice ones that go.....what's with that?

the 10 minute run

2009-06-29T16:31:00.001+10:00

ok, i have to fess up...the 10 minute run never happened.....surprised? i think not!
well, it was raining. it was cold. we went to new farm markets. i did eat all day.....
and i am more of a peanut m & m munching, slow-walking in the sunshine sorta girl. is that so bad?
i may end up like a nuetered cat who gets fat lazing in the sun.....but i can hide under a homemade quilt & munch on yummy baked goods. and as always, i will worry about it later......yeah for me!

positive attitude

2009-06-29T16:13:00.001+10:00

been meaning to post this cute quote from creaturecomforts for ages. check in there regularly for quotes, free downloads & amazing eye candy! this woman is amazing.

applique

2009-06-29T15:54:00.001+10:00

i am browsing the internet in my post-nightduty haze....oh the joys of staying awake all night, catching a few hours sleeep before lunch & feeling like shit all day....but at least i have a great excuse for drinking tea & being lazy!
this cute kit is from kia hing fay and was found on redfeltflower ... they are sooo cute. i am hankering for some hand stitching. and i love everything about these.

training....warning f word alert

2009-06-25T12:05:00.001+10:00

sports bra - check
pelvic floor - check
ipod - check
positive attitude - check

i skipped through my last few days of the training schedule...well, i did have 2 rest days in the 3 days.
today was the 10 minute walk-5 minute jog-10 minute walk routine. thought i can do that.
fuck, i am not built to jog. not even miley cyrus' the climb could keep me going the full 5 minutes. with snot on my face, my tracksuit pants falling down (accidentally left the mobile phone in pocket) & me gasping for breath must have been quite the sight....thank god none of the celery munching yummy mummies were out with their designer prams to laugh at me. with a quick wipe of the face & pull up of the pants i pushed through for the total 5 minutes in the end....i was told by my man there was no one, two, skip a few minutes involved in the program. he so knows me!
thank god tomorrow is a rest day. somehow i have to do a 10 minute jog/walk routine the following day. i have to work on the breathing and running at the same time.
am off to find some gatorade!

letterpress. cot bumpers. darwin....totally related!

2009-06-25T10:00:00.001+10:00

since delving into blog world, there are a few things i have noticed. maybe it's just me.... but we seem very different from the americans. an epiphany i know...

i stumble across alot of american blogs & for some reason i am drawn to the pretty ones that end up with wedding info...or the baby ones with designy baby stuff. this is wierd in itself as i am already married & have no intention of doing it again & there will be no more babies here either. go figure?

i have noticed that they all have cot bumpers......didn't they get banished here years ago for sids risks?? maybe something has changed as i have not had a child in a cot for 9 years now....

and the amount of money spent on weddings seems astronomical.....i was reading about budget invites & when this particular post revealed the gorgeous budget letterpress invite price paid was $2000 i was gobsmacked.... for 2 reasons:

1.they thought that was a cheap price & a budget option & linked to it and

2.people actually spend that sort of money on invites?

i think our whole wedding cost less than that!

there are many more things i could think of if i tried but these 2 things pop up regularly. so maybe i am just different. maybe i just need to get a life & stop thinking about things that don't concern me.

i blame the beautiful letterpress designs out there. i am a sucker!

and maybe i am a tad bemused at all the baby stuff out there these days......in darwin, we had not much at all & our babies were mostly naked. not from bad parenting. it is just too hot. and the clothes they did wear were from target. internet was brand new. designer shops didn't exist. we had a toy library that was great. we hung out at home with friends alot & it was very laid back & unpretentious....actually it was fun. and no pressure to conform....to anything. and it was soooo relaxed! darwin, you were great!

**letterpress invite found here.

it's a kids world

2009-06-25T09:48:00.002+10:00

last day of term today. last alarm set for a few weeks.......
things we are planning:

seaworld on saturday to burn our free pass before it expires on 30 june
have a donut day......the plan is to have only hot cinnamon donuts for lunch
get serious plans done for 13yo boy bedroom.......i feel an ikea trip coming
find some ideas for boy bedroom. why are there no cool teen boy designs to be found anywhere?? i am not talking themes....just ideas. more research & thinking required.
get some sewing projects done - the cushions are still a figment of my imagination
boardgames day.......i have some serious catching up to do as i have been the big loser of late
spend a few nights at the gold coast for man to run his marathon....i am scared for him!
squeeze in a sleepover for some friends

and all the boring stuff like get the car serviced, clean up (as if that will happen but if i write it here, i may have more chance of doing it) & buy new shoes & uniforms for boys - they really need to slow the growing thing down. it is killing me!
hope you enjoy the holidays too.........

exercise......kaz style

2009-06-23T12:18:00.001+10:00

i am on a mission yet again...you know, drop a few kilos, feel fitter...boring!
anyhow, i saw this piece in the paper for a training schedule for the bridgetobrisbane on the weekend. obviously i am in the total newbie section & don't worry, i have absolutely no intention of running a race! phew!!

no, i need some surgery in a month & will be laying around on my arse for 4-6 weeks, sipping tea, scoffing cakes & crafting while i recover....and although i am shit scared of the surgery, i am more shit scared of getting fatter & more peri-menopausal afterwards.......so i saw the first week training schedule & was totally attracted to day 1 - REST. i thought shit, i can do that!! so, day 1 went well.......

day 2 is today & entails a 10 minute walk.....i think i can even do that....then i have the choice of rest or cross training.......let me see now??? REST of course.....this week sounds too good to be true. i am yet to investigate the following weeks. maybe best i be surprised so i don't give up yet.....like i normally do.

am off to do my 10 minute walk peeps......

meanwhile, my man is training for the gold coast marathon. he has run some half marathons before, but this is the full monty........42kms......this is my nothing in halves, everything at the extreme end husband......who even drinks intense teabags! wtf?? anyhow, we have a few nights booked at the coast for it & some family time planned..we will cheer him at the finish line & throw him in the car back to the hotel afterwards.......bless him. we have the nipple bandaids & new joggers all ready! how & why the flock anyone runs that far willingly is beyond me....but he will have the t-shirt to prove it........

gorjuss art

2009-06-23T11:57:00.002+10:00

i have been lusting after some of these prints for 18 months now. some images move me to tears. check out this amazing artist's own site & etsy store for some gorjuss art. i love the detail, the darkness & the themes....i have a little birthday coming up soonish & i think i may just need a few of these to frame....

ps...i can spell...it is the name of her site peeps!

camping...kaz style

2009-06-18T11:58:00.002+10:00

now this is my idea of camping. i can roast marshmallows, drink red wine by the fire, snuggle in a warm cozy bed, pee on a toilet, see the outdoors...... & all without freezing my arse off in some flimsy tent flapping in the breeze...& not an air mattress in sight.
check this post out on apartment therapy. it looks cool!

i have been checking out other cute little places to sleep that i will share later......

birdhouse by kaz

2009-06-18T10:37:00.001+10:00

so, my little birdhouse is just about done. i still need to put a twiggy perch at the front entrance but all the sewing is done! i am pretty happy with my first effort. it wasn't even that fiddly. and it only took me ages because i am lazy & disorganized. it is not like tamar's but it didn't cost me $175 either!

i must thank nerida & jodie for the advice & tips. it was very encouraging girls & i appreciate your advice!

now all i need is a little non-pooping bird to perch out front.....am onto it!

pretty & good for the soul

2009-06-18T09:33:00.002+10:00

go straight to kindred & print these gorgeous freebies out. they are sooo pretty & good for the soul. there are so many things to be thankful for....but sometimes we lose sight of them. the girls at kindred do an amazing job. go & take a peek...

pink & tiffany

2009-06-17T09:07:00.001+10:00

let me clear some things up...

no, i didn't officially hang with pink at her concert...i had a shitty seat where i had to peek over a railing half the night to see properly. being short does suck. i would have loved nothing more than meeting up back stage & checking all the costumes out & asking her lots of questions...a bit like when i asked my man to take me to a strip club in melbourne centuries ago...i'd never been to one & i was curious...and then i asked the girls loads of questions...almost like an interview...it was fun & very interesting. they were so normal....and no, there were no private dancers for us!

i am a hopeless shopper & left tiffany with nothing....i did try lots on & i loved that my man surprised me & wanted to buy me something there....but it seemed like a lot of money & extravagance for jewellery....i am more practical...sad but true...it was enough that he was prepared to do it.

so, no, i am not dripping with jewels, sitting in my lingerie & drinking vb with pink & carey....but that would be fun for a night!
ps...no, i am not a beer drinking bogan...i would be sipping champagne but i hear she likes vb...